Compatibility with Apple Silicon (M1 or later)

When checking for the compatibility with Apple Silicon computers (M1, M2,...), there are different things to consider, we detail this below, but very briefly, we can tell that, while our applications run mostly fine on Apple Silicon chips (either Natively or with Rosetta depending on the application), the main things to know currently is that:

• You have to use the latest version of our software to be able to run them as universal versions. Our universal versions are easy to recognise, they use the new version of our icons.
• While our intel applications may run on an Apple Silicon computer (using Rosetta), only the applications built as Universal will be fully tested and supported. Contact us if you have more questions about this.
• OnTheAir Node 3 will not be compatible with Apple Silicon processors. You will have to upgrade to OnTheAir Node 4.
• MovieStreamer HLS will not be compatible with Apple Silicon processors, the software is discontinued.

Read below for more details...

Check drivers compatibility with macOS

As the Apple Silicon computers will only run with Big Sur or later, first make sure to check which applications and video device drivers are supported by these macOS versions.

Rosetta or Native?

When running applications on computers with Apple Silicon chips, there are two possible types:

• Intel: the application is not built for Apple Silicon chips and thus it runs with the Rosetta translation. The performances won't be as good.
• Universal: the application has been built to run natively, so without translation. These applications are called "Universal" as they include a version for Intel and one for Apple Silicon processors. This should result in better performances.

Note that all the Softron applications that are universal come with a new type of icon that look like this: 

So they are easy to recognise. If the application uses a different type of icon, it means it can not run natively on the Mac, but it can most probably run using Rosetta.

By default, if an application is "Universal", it will run "Natively". But in some cases, you may want to force the application to start with Rosetta. For this, select the application in the Finder, then use the command + i keyboard shortcut, and enable the following option:

Supported Applications Versions

IMPORTANT: If you use a video input/output (AJA, Blackmagic-Design, Deltacast, NDI), make sure to check the compatibility list in the next point below.

Application	First Version Supported with Rosetta	First "Universal" Version
GPICommander	2.5.3	2.6
OnTheAir CG	3.5.4*	3.6
OnTheAir Video	4.0*	4.0**
OnTheAir Video Express	4.0*	4.0**
OnTheAir Node	4.0b1*	4.0*
OnTheAir Live	4.0b1	4.0
OnTheAir Manager	4.0b1	4.0
OnTheAir Switch	2.8.2	2.9
MovieRecorder	4.4	4.4
MovieRecorder Express	4.4	4.4
MovieStreamer HLS	Not supported	Not supported
Multicam Logger	2.1.10	2.2**
M|Replay	2.2b25 (Pre-release version available)	2.2
Streaming Center	1.1	1.2

* Check the video drivers compatibility list below.

** If you are using the software with a Blackmagic-Design ATEM production switcher, make sure to install version 8.6.4 on your computer as it's the first universal version

Compatibility with video inputs and outputs

All video cards manufacturers, and NDI offer a universal driver and SDK.  Check below in which version it was added.

Video inputs/outputs compatibility with Apple Silicon

Below is the table of compatibility of the SDK used in our Applications either when the application runs in Rosetta, or natively. Note that this is not the driver installed in your Mac, but the SDK provided by the card manufacturer that we use in our application. You can check which SDK our application uses by checking our logs, as we will log the SDK version used.

Device	Rosetta	Natively
AJA	16.1	16.1
Blackmagic-Design	12.0*	12.0*
M|Family (Deltacast)	6.17 universal beta	6.19
NDI Output	All our applications since 2019**	4.6.1**, but the first optimised and truly universal version is 5.0
NDI Input	4.6.1**	4.6.1**, but the first optimised and truly universal version is 5.0
ATEM Production Switchers	8.5.3	8.6.4

* some cards are not compatible with the Apple Silicon chip. Check the compatibility list in BMD's release note, and/or in our article.

** Newtek added a first partial support for Apple Silicon with the NDI SDK 4.6.1, but full support with version 5 or later. All our applications that use that SDK are fully compatible, both for input and output, in Rosetta or Universal. Versions of our applications that use an NDI SDK prior to version 4.6.1 can only work for output only and only when using Rosetta.

Compatibility with codecs or formats

Encoding codecs on Apple Silicon computers 

In MovieRecorder and MovieRecorder Express, we use some third party encoders. All the widely used codecs will continue to work, but some legacy codecs may not be ported. For example, some codecs (such as DVCPRO HD) will not be ported for a compatibility with Apple Silicon computers. Note that this is not the case for decoding, so our playback applications (OnTheAir Video, OnTheAir Video Express, OnTheAir Node) will continue to support the same codecs on Apple Silicon computers. To check which encoding codecs are compatible with Apple Silicon computers, check MovieRecorder's specifications page.

Important note about the ProRes Encode/decode engines with interlaced video formats

The ProRes encode and decode engines that are present in most Mac with Apple Silicon chip are not able to encode interlaced sources, they can only encode progressive. When using interlaced sources, the CPU will be used.

Usual and important recommendations 

As usual, when doing major system or hardware upgrades on critical pieces of equipment for broadcast or production, it is always best to run tests with a backup equipment so you can make sure that all the pieces of your specific workflow are working well together. We run many tests, and different combinations, but we don't have your files and all cameras.